Case sealer



Get. 1, 1963 E. E. MARSHALL CASE SEALER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22.1961 IIIII ll INVENTOR.

EDWARD E. MARSHALL ATTORNEX Oct. 1, 1963 E. E. MARSHALL CASE SEALER 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1961 INVENTOR. EDWARD E. MARSHALL ATTORNEXOct. 1, 1963 E. E. MARSHALL CASE SEALER Filed Aug. 22, 1961 6"Sheets-Sheet 3 tillllll'llllllill' lur I ll Ill Ill-ll l1 I I INVENTOR.EDWARD E'. MARSHALL )LLQZ ATTORNEY.

Oct. 1, 1963 E. E. MARSHALL CASE SEALER Filed Aug. 22, 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 4 mm mm ATTORNEY.

Oct. 1, 1963 s. E. MARSHALL CASE SEALER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 22,1961 INVENTOR. EDWARD E. MARSHALL AT TOR/V5).

Oct. 1,1963 E. E. MARSHALL 3,105,334

CASE SEALER Filed Aug. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. EDWARD E.MARSHALL ATTOR/VE United States Patent 0 3,105,334 CASE SEALER Edward E.Marshall, Meadowbrook, Pa., assignor to Hunting-don industries,incorporated, a corporation of Pennsylvmia Filed Aug. 22, 1961, Ser. No.133,249 11 @laims. (Cl. 53-38) The term glue as used herein includesglue, cement, epoxy resin, or any other adhesive.

This invention relates to improvements in a case sealer, and moreparticularly concerns a vertical case sealer for sealing filledend-closing cases and a method of forming and sealing such cases.

Boxes or cases made of corrugated paperboard or the like are widely usedto package cans or similar articles. The blank of an end-closing (oropening) case normally is smaller, and therefore less expensive, thanthe blank of a corresponding top-closing (or opening) case. For example,in packaging a case of twenty-four cans, an end-closing blank in normaluse today would require up to thirty percent less paperboard than atop-closing blank. This ditference in the amount of board requiredarises from the fact that the flaps on the ends of an end-closing caseare smaller than the flaps on the top and bottom of a correspondingtop-closing case, since many cases today are long and flat, thus makingthe area of the end of the case considerably smaller than the area ofthe top or bottom.

Accordingly, packers have long desired to use endclosing cases insteadof top-closing cases because of the savings in paperboard and cost.However, the end-closing case has presented considerable difficulties inloading it with cans and the like, especially if a tight package isrequired.

conventionally, the method of forming and filling an end-closing case isto take such a case as supplied by the manufacturer (in flattenedcondition with the manufacturers flap connecting a side panel to the topor bottom panel), then erect the side, top and bottom panels to set-upcondition so that it appears as a tube, fill the case with cans bypushing the cans sidewise through one end, and then glue and close bothends.

It can be very difiicult to shove a load of cans sideways into a casefrom one end, especially if the case is a snug fit. Most can packersprefer a tight case because it lessens the likelihood of can damageduring handling and shipping.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method offorming and sealing a filled end-closing F case which overcomes thedifiiculties of the prior art.

It is another object to provide a method for easy top loading anend-closing case, and yet securing a snugly fitting case.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vertical case sealerfor end-closing cases.

It is another object to eliminate the case manufacturers step ofprecisely sealing the manufacturers flap.

It is another object to provide a case sealer which exerts pressure infour directions, and closes and seals the manu-facturers flap as Well asthe end flaps of an endclosing case.

It is another object to provide a case sealer wit-h stripout means forclearing all cases from the sealing chamber when desired.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, including its shnplicityand economy, as well as the ease with which it may be adapted toexisting equipment, will further become apparent hereinafter and in thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation and partly in section Tice of avertical case sealer constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in horizontal section taken as indicated by the linesand arrows 2-2 which appear in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the pusher plate mechanism whichappears in FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the support and adjusting means forthe belt frame which appears in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows5-5 which appear in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows66 which appear in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is 'a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows77 which appear in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail View of the strip-out mechanism whichappears in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the belt frames which appear inFIG. 1; and

FIGS. 11-17 are views illustrating various steps in the process of theinvention.

Although specific terms are used in the following description forclarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structure shownin the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings, there is shown a vertical case sealer forsealing end-closing cases which have been loaded with cans or the like,comprising vertically disposed belts 21-24 arranged to form a sealingchamber 25, means including spring-backed rollers 26 for exertingpressure against belts 23, 24 which are adapted to exert pressureagainst the sides and ends of a case contacted thereby to maintain theend flaps of the case in closed position until their adhesive sets, andmeans including pusher plate 27 for inserting a series of cases intosea-ling chamber 25.

In normal operation, means including pusher plate 27 moves the casesupwardly in sealing chamber 25, each succeeding case pushing the stackof cases above it upwardly. At the top of sealing chamber 25, there isprovided means including a take-off conveyor 28 for moving the sealedcases off at the top of their upward travel. The cases are delivered toa delivery roller conveyor 31.

At the end of a run of a particular type case, no more cases areinserted in sealing chamber 25, and the cases in sealing chamber 25 areremoved by strip-out mechanism 32 which is connected to move the belts21, 23 upwardly when desired to clear all cases from sealing chamber 25.

The vertical case sealer includes four upright corner support columns3336 which are mounted on bottom frame 37 and are tied together at thetop by angle iron frame 38.

Columns 33-36 are connected to belt frames 41-44 by means of a pair ofvertically spaced apart U-shaped support members '45, 46 extendinghorizontflly from between each pair of adjacent columns 33-36.

To support belt frames 4144-, each leg of U-shaped support members 46contains a slot 47 which receives a support roller 48 mounted on eachside of the belt frames 4144.

An adjustnig screw 51 is operatively connected between the base 52 (ofeach U-shaped member 45, 46) and each of the belt frames 41-44 for thepurpose of adjusting the position of the belt frame and the belt in ahorizontal sense.

Each adjusting screw '51 is provided at its end with a milled square 53which has a removable hand crank 54 for moving the belt frameshorizontally to accommodate different size cases.

A sprocket chain '55 extends between upper and lower adjusting screws sothat they may be moved in unison when desired. It will be realized thatthe upper and lower adjusting screws 51 may be moved independently totilt the belt inwardly or outwardly with respect to sealing chamber 25,or to make any other adjustments as to position between the upper andlower parts of the belt.

Each belt frame 4144 supports its belt on a head pulley 56 and a bottompulley 57, and is provided with take-up mechanism 53 for tightening thebelt.

To exert horizontal pressure on the belts 21-24- and on the ends andsides of the cases contacted by the belts, there is provided mechanismwhich includes rollers 61 and spring-backed rollers 26 which are mountedin the belt frames 41-44. The spring-backed rollers 26 are positionedopposite rollers 61, which have no springs. FIGS. 4 and illustrate thestructure of the springbacked roller mechanism which includes channel62, spring 63 mounted on a shaft 64 having a stop shoulder 65, and plate65 having a hole 67 which receives shaft 5% of spring-backed roller 26.

The means for inserting a series of cases into sealing chamber 25,referring to FIG. 3, includes pusher plate 27 which is reciprocatedvertically by vertical link 71 which is supported by bracket 72 andactuated by cam lever 73.

The filled cases are transported to pusher plate 27 by feed conveyor 74and are stopped in proper position by an adjustable stopping plate 75which is mounted on the ends of screws '76.

At the top of sealing chamber 25 is mounted the takeofi mechanism whichincludes take-oil conveyor 28. A sprocket 77 is mounted on a take-upplate 78, which is pivotally mounted by a pin 81 and is provided with aslot 82. Plate 78 may be moved about its pivot pin 81 to move theposition of sprocket 77 and thereby tighten chain =83.

Chain 83 follows a path through support guides 84 around sprockets 85,86 and is provided with flight bars 87 which contact the upper portionof the case and move it off the stack of cases to delivery rollerconveyor 31.

'Power is delivered to chain 83 through appropriate gearing and shaft88.

Delivery roller conveyor 31 is mounted to the frame by means of supportmembers 91 which are adjustable as to vertical position.

Strip-out mechanism 32, referring to FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, includesmotor 92connected to the shafts of head pulleys 56 by a gear arrangement whichincludes shaft 93, sprockets 9 95 connected by chain 100, shaft 96,gears 97, 93, and shaft 101.

It is to be noted that each head pulley 56 is provided with anoverrunning clutch 102, which constitutes a unilateral braking means, sothat the belts 21'24 can never move downwardly but must move only in theupward direction in sealing chamber 25.

Power to operate pusher plate 27, take-oif conveyor 28, and feedconveyor 74 is provided by motor 103, gear box 194, shaft .105, chain106, shaft 107, cam cam follower 111, cam lever 73, chain 112, rightangle gear box 113, shaft 88, chain 114, and shaft 115,

In operation, an end-clos ng case which has been filled with cans and iscompletely set up except that its top flaps and manufacturers flapextend outwardly from the top panel, is moved by feed conveyor 74 intoposition on pusher plate 27 against adjustable stopping plate 75. Camlever 73 moves pusher plate 27 upwardly to insert the case into thebottom of sealing chamber and fold the top and manufacturers flaps intoset-up position, wrapping them around the cans in the case. The bottomcase of the stack of cases in the sealing chamber squeezes the top panelof the case down tightly, and the belts wipe the top panel tabs aroundthe pack t9 give a very tightly packed case.

Cam lever 73 is actuated by cam 108 to lift pusher plate 27 veryquickly. While plate 27 is supporting only one case, it is acceleratedat a uniform rate and then decelerated at a uniform rate so that thecase is moving very slowly when it makes contact with the bottom case ofthe stack of cases in sealing chamber 25. Then plate 27 assumes theweight of the full stack and is again uniformly accelerated anddecelerated so that the bottom case is fully received by sealing chamber'25 and the top case is moving very slowly when delivered to take-offconveyor 28.

Belts 21-24 exert pressure against the ends and sides of the case tohold it in set-up condition and also prevent downward movement,eliminating the use of latches to support the bottom of the case.Succeeding cases inserted into the bottom of sealing chamber 25 move thecase upwardly while the belts 21-24 maintain said pressing against theends and sides of the case to seal it.

At the top of sealing chamber 25, flight bars 87 of take-01f conveyor 28contact the case and move it off to delivery roller conveyor 3-1.

If it is desired to clear sealing chamber 25 of all cases (for example,at the end of a run of a particular size case), strip-out mechanism 32is operated to rotate head pulleys 56 and move the belts 21, 23 upwardlyin sealing chamber 25 to remove all cases therefrom.

To form a filled end-closing case, the procedure is to (referring toFIGS. l1l7) take a flat blank which has top panel 116, side panels 117and 118, bottom-panel 121, manufacturers flap 122, top flaps 123, sideflaps 124, bottom flaps 125, and side flaps 126. Apply an adhesive tothe bottom flaps, and fold the bottom and side flaps 124-126 into set-upposition as shown in FIG. 12. iress against the side and bottom flaps124-i26 to seal them together, and then fill the case with cans or thelike as shown in FIG. 13. Then apply adhesive to the top flaps 123 andthe manufacturers flap 122, and fold top panel 116 into set-up positionwith the manufacturers flap 122 and top flaps 123 extending outwardlytherefrom. Then fold the manufacturers flap 122 and the top flaps 123into set-up position, and press against the ends and sides of the case.Move the case upwardly while maintaining said pressure in order to sealthe case by allowing the adhesive enough time to set.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a tightsnug-fitting case, which lessens the chances of can damage duringshipping and handling. By wrapping the top panel and its flaps over thetop of the cans in accordance with the invention, a very snug fit isobtained.

Moreover, this snug fit is obtained without making the loading operationmore difiicult. By preforming the bottom portion of the case, it may beloaded without difficulty because easy access is provided through thetop. Such top loading permits the use of a funnel, which furtherexpedites the loading operation.

The method of this invention cuts the cost to the packer of the caseblank. Conventional methods of packing require that the casemanufacturer supply cases to the packer with the manufacturers fiapglued or stapled to the case. Sealing the manufacturers flap is aprecise gluing or stapling operation, since the dimensions of the openedcase must be within certain tolerances to receive a load of cans snugly.The method of the present invention eliminates the need for this precisemanufacturers step,

and enables the packer to buy the blank from the manufacturer at lesscost, since a fiap blank is bought without the manufacturers fiap beingsealed.

The method of the present invention is adapted for use with existingequipment, and lends itself to automatic or semi-automatic production.For example, semi-automatic production may be obtained by forming thebottom portion of a case, filling it with cans through the top by havingan operator hold it against a conventional can packer, applying glue tothe top flaps, and sealing the case by delivering it to the verticalcase sealer of this invention.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a Presently preferred embodiment. Variouschanges may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts. Forexample, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustratedand described, parts may be reversed, and certain features of theinvention may be utilized independently of the use of other features,all Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the subjoined claims.

The claimed invention:

1. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-closing casescomprising a plurality of vertically disposed belts arranged to form avertical sealing chamber, means for pressing the belts against the sidesand ends of a stack of cases being sealed to support each case and tomaintain its end flaps in closed position until said flaps are sealed,unidirectional braking means connected to the belts for preventing themfrom moving downwardly, and means for inserting a series of cases intosaid sealing chamber from below.

2. A vertical case sealer -for sealing filled end-closing casescomprising a plurality of vertically disposed belts arranged to form avertical sealing chamber, means for pressing the belts against the sidesand ends of a stack of cases to support each case and to hold its endflaps in closed position until said flaps are sealed, unidirectionalbraking means connected to the belts for preventing them from movingdownwardly, and means for pushing a case against the bottom of saidstack to move said cases up- Wardly.

3. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-closing casescomprising a plurality of vertically disposed belts arranged to form asealing chamber, means for pressing the belts against the sides and endsof a stack of cases to support each case in said chamber and maintainits end flaps in closed position until said flaps are sealed,unidirectional braking means connected to the belts for preventing themfrom moving downwardly, means for pushing a case against the bottom ofsaid stack to move said stack of cases upwardly, and take-oft" means atthe top of said sealing chamber for moving the sealed cases ofi at thetop of their upward travel.

4. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-closing casescomprising a plurality of vertically disposed belts arranged to form asealing chamber, means pressing the belts against the sides and ends ofa stack of cases to support each case and maintain its end flaps inclosed position until said flaps are sealed, unidirectional brakingmeans connected to the belts for preventing them from moving downwardly,means for inserting a series of cases into said sealing chamber frombelow, and strip-out means connected to said belts for moving them andsaid cases upwardly when desired to clear all cases from said seal ingchamber.

5. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-closing cases whichhave been loaded with cans or the like, comprising a frame includingfour upright corner support columns, a pair of vertically spaced apartU-shaped support members extending horizontally from between each pairof adjacent columns, each leg of the lower of said U-shaped memberscontaining a slot, four vertically disposed endless belts arranged so asto form a four-sided case sealing chamber, a belt frame supporting eachbelt on a head pulley and a bottom pulley and provided with take-upmeans for tightening the belt, a support roller mounted on each beltframe and positioned in said slot in each leg of the lower U-shapedmembers, an adjusting screw operatively connected between the base ofeach U-shaped member and one of the belt frames for adjusting theposition of the belt frame :and belt in a horizontal sense, means forpressing the belts against the sides and ends of a stack of cases tosupport each case and maintain its end flaps in closed position untilsaid flaps are sealed, unidirectional braking means connected to thebelts for preventing them from moving downwardly, and

6. means for pushing a case against the bottom of said stack to movesaid cases upwardly.

6. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-closing cases whichhave been loaded with cans or the like, comprising a plurality ofvertically disposed belts arranged to form a vertical sealing chamber, aseries of rollers mounted behind the belts, a pair of adjacent beltshaving its rollers provided with springs that press the rollers towardthe belts which exert pressure against the sides and ends of a stack ofcases passing between the belts to support each case in said sealingchamber, unidirectional braking means connected to the belts forpreventing them from moving downwardly, and means for pushing a caseagainst the bottom of said stack to move said cases upwardly.

7. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-closing cases whichhave been loaded with cans or the like, com prising a frame includingfour upright corner support columns, a pair of vertically spaced apartU-shaped support members extending horizontally from between each pairof adjacent columns, each leg of the lower of said U-shaped memberscontaining a horizontal slot, four verti cally disposed endless beltsarranged so as to form a foursided case sealing chamber, a belt framesupporting each belt on a head pulley and a bottom pulley and providedwith take-up means for tightening the belt, a support roller mounted oneach belt frame and positioned in said slot in each leg of the lowerU-shaped members, an adjusting screw operatively connected between thebase of each U-shaped member and one of the belt frames for adjustingthe position of the belt frame and belt in a horizontal sense, a seriesof rollers mounted on said belt frames behind the belts, a pair ofadjacent belts having its rollers provided with springs that press therollers toward the belts which exert pressure against the sides and endsof a stack of cases passing between the belts to support each case,unidirectional braking means connected to the belts for preventing themfrom moving downwardly, pusher plate means mounted below the belts forpushing a filled case against the bottom of said stack and into contactwith the belts at the entrance to said sealing chamber to move saidstack upwardly in said chamber, a take-oft conveyor positioned at thetop of said sealing chamber for removing each case at the top of itsupward travel, a strip-out means including a motor connected to saidhead pulleys for moving the belts and said cases upwardly when desiredto clear all cases from the sealing chamber, and a delivery rollerconveyor mounted on two of said columns and positioned to receive thesealed cases from said take-off conveyor.

8. A method of sealing an end-closing case comprising taking a firstend-closing case which is filled with cans and the like and completelyset up except that its top flaps and manufacturers flap extend outwardlyfrom the top panel, placing said case beneath a stack of cases, movingsaid case upwardly so that its top panel is pressed down by the bottomof said stack, folding said top and manufacturers flaps into set-upposition around the cans by contacting said fiaps with verticallymovable belts to form a tight pack, pressing against the ends and sidesof the case with said belts to support said case and hold it in set-upcondition at the bottom of said stack, pressing against the belts withspring-backed rollers, placing a second of said cases beneath the stackof cases, moving said second case upwardly so that the bottom of saidfirst case presses down against the top panel of said second case,folding said top and manufacturers fiaps of said second case into set-upposition around the cans by contacting said flaps with said belts toform a tight pack, moving said first case upwardly by moving said secondcase upwardly, and maintaining sealing and case supporting pressure bysaid belts on the flaps of said first and second cases, said beltspreventing said rollers from crushing any part of said cases byrestraining horizontal roller movement.

' against the top panel of said case, moving the stack of casesupwardlyand wiping the top and manufacturers flaps of said case around the cansinto set-up condition to form a tight pack by contacting said flaps withvertically movable belts, pressing said belts against the ends and sidesof the case to hold it in set-up condition, supporting said case againstdownward movement by means of said belts, and moving said case upwardlywhile maintaining said pressing to seal the case.

10. A method of forming a filled end-closing case comprising taking afiat blank of an end-opening case, applying adhesive on the bottomflaps, folding the bottom and side flaps into set-up position, pressingagainst said bottom and side flaps to seal them together, filling thecase with oans, applying adhesive on the top flaps and manufacturersflap, folding the top panel into set-up position, placing said casebeneath a stack of cases, moving said case upwardly so that the bottomof said stack presses down on said top panel, moving said case upwardlyand wiping said top and manufacturers flaps downwardly into set-upposition to form a tight pack around said cans by contacting said flapswith vertically moveable belts, pressing said belts against the ends andsides of the case to seal it, and supporting said case against downwardmovement by means of said belts.

11. A vertical case sealer for sealing filled end-opening casescomprising four vertically disposed belts with each arranged at rightangles to its adjacent belts to form a vertical sealing chamber, meanspressing said belts against the sides and ends of a stack of cases beingsealed in said chamber to support each case and to hold its flaps inclosed position until said flaps are sealed, unidirectional brakingmeans connected to the belts for preventing them from moving downwardly,and means for inserting a series of cases into said sealing chamber frombelow.

References (Iited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,969,581 Rose Aug. 7, 1934 2,266,054 Lowey et al Dec. 16, 19412,635,802 Belsinger Apr. 21, 1953 2,873,848 Steinmetz Feb. 17, 1959-2,904,941 Midnight Sept. 22, 1959 3,020,691 Oxborrow Feb. 13, 1962FOREIGN PATENTS 1,106,250 Germany May 4, 1961

10. A METHOD OF FORMING A FILLED END-CLOSING CASE COMPRISING TAKING AFLAT BLANK OF AN END-OPENING CASE, APPLYING ADHESIVE ON THE BOTTOMFLAPS, FOLDING THE BOTTOM AND SIDE FLAPS INTO SET-UP POSITION, PRESSINGAGAINST SAID BOTTOM AND SIDE FLAPS TO SEAL THEM TOGETHER, FILLING THECASE WITH CANS, APPLYING ADHESIVE ON THE TOP FLAPS AND MANUFACTURER''SFLAP, FOLDING THE TOP PANEL INTO SET-UP POSITION, PLACING SAID CASEBENEATH A STACK OF CASES, MOVING SAID CASE UPWARDLY SO THAT THE BOTTOMOF SAID STACK PRESSES DOWN ON SAID TOP PANEL, MOVING SAID CASE UPWARDLYAND WIPING SAID TOP AND MANUFACTURER''S FLAPS DOWNWARDLY INTO SET-UPPOSITION TO FORM A TIGHT PACK AROUND SAID CANS BY CONTACTING SAID FLAPSWITH VERTICALLY MOVEABLE BELTS, PRESSING SAID BELTS AGAINST THE ENDS ANDSIDES OF THE CASE TO SEAL IT, AND SUPPORTING SAID CASE AGAINST DOWNWARDMOVEMENT BY MEANS OF SAID BELTS.